Hot Springs manufacturing company Alliance Rubber reaching 90 years

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (KTHV) -- A current documentary playing in Little Rock showcases the struggles of the U.S. manufacturing business. We recently told you about the film "Death by China"on Today's THV This Morning. But in Hot Springs a company is bucking the trend, operating almost 90 years.

You won't find a shortage of rubber bands at this Hot Springs manufacturing plant.

"We do about 15 million pounds a year," President Bonnie Swayze said.

Coming off the lines and into bins, rubber bands are one of the staple products at Alliance Rubber Company,which has become a staple business in Spa City.

"We've been here since 1944 and the next March 7th, we will celebrate our 90th anniversary," Swayze said.

A big mile-stone, President Bonnie Swayze feels, comes from two main factors.

"It's because of ingenuity and the perseverance of our great staff here in Hot Springs," Swayze said.

In the past year and a half, the company's introduced eight products, like wristbands the company designs for clients.

"These are the world's first custom-imprinted, four-color imprint wristbands, we're the only one in the world with it," Swayze said.

There are new fragrance-wristbands too and more stapes like lobster bands, all of originating from blocks of rubber shipped in from overseas.

"They're 75 pounds apiece; this is the stuff that actually comes out of a tree," Trevor Hamilton said.